11 Jun 2016

In his first season at LFC, Brendan Rodgers did a Rafa Benitez and dumped Nuri Sahin after only six months at the club, and new reports this week suggest that Jurgen Klopp is mulling over the possibility of bringing the Turkish midfielder back to Anfield.

In October 2015, Sky Sports claimed that Sahin is 'keen for a reunion with Jurgen Klopp, and according to Turkish newspaper AMK Sport this week:

"Jurgen Klopp wants to sign Nuri Sahin^, and the Liverpool boss will closely monitor him during Euro 2016".

Sahin Timeline:

* Sep 2012: After signing for LFC, Sahin described himself as follows: "I am a central midfielder, not someone who dribbles past players and shoots. I'm more of a tactical and technical player. I like to organise.".

* 2012-13: Rodgers repeatedly played Sahin out of position, which invoked the ire of then-Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp, who scathed: "Nuri is brilliant player, but it was the wrong position. Fielding him in the number ten position is not the best solution"

* Nov 2014: Sahin slammed Rodgers for playing him out of position: "The manager [Rodgers] started playing me behind the striker which does not suit my game. Despite my love for the club, I had to leave due to the managers insistence on playing me in that role."

At the time, I repeatedly argued against Rodgers' handling of Sahin, but as per usual, many fans wouldn't accept it, and made spurious accusations about Sahin's alleged (and totally unsubstantiated) attitude problem/lack of application/failure to adapt/settle etc.

Whatever the issues of the past, Liverpool should steer clear as Sahin is yet another Dortmund player with a terrible injury history:

* 6 injuries in the last two seasons (522 days out/81 games missed)

* Made only 12 appearances for BVB last season. (Averaged only 23 games a season for the last 3 years).

Unfortunately, this is arguably a realistic and viable transfer option for Liverpool. Sahin is on the outs at Dortmund, and with his injury history, no top club is going to touch him with a barge pole (IMO). Liverpool, however, have Klopp as a major draw, and given his history with the German, Anfield will probably seem like a good move.

In my view, it'd be transfer negligence to sign Sahin, or indeed any player with such an atrocious recent injury history.^ Reportedly on €58k-a-week.